Kaylee McKeown Rips 57.50 100 Backstroke For #3 Performance In History (Video)

2023 AUSTRALIAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TRIALS

The 2023 Australian World Championship Trials nearly saw a new World Record go down at the hands of 21-year-old Kaylee McKeown.

While competing in the women’s 100m backstroke, the Olympic champion from Griffith University ripped a winning effort of 57.50 to fall just .05 shy of her own best-ever performance and current WR time of 57.45.

McKeown opened in 28.27 and closed in 29.23 to get to the wall first and easily qualify for Fukuoka. Fellow Olympian Mollie O’Callaghan snagged silver in 58.42, matching her own best-ever, while Iona Anderson rounded out the top 3 in 1:00.05.

After the race, McKeown said ‘it was nice’ and merely saw the production as a stepping stone to getting to next month’s World Championships.

Tonight’s performance checks in as the 3rd fastest in history and she now owns 4 of the top 10 100m back outings ever produced.

Top 10 Women’s LCM 100 Backstroke Performances in History

  1. 57.45 – Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 2021
  2. 57.47 – Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 2021
  3. 57.50 – Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 2023
  4. 57.57 – Regan Smith (USA), 2019
  5. 57.63 – Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 2021
  6. 57.64 – Regan Smith (USA), 2021
  7. 57.65 – Regan Smith (USA), 2022
  8. 57.70 – Kylie Masse (CAN), 2021
  9. 57.72 – Kylie Masse (CAN), 2021
  10. 57.75 – Regan Smith (USA), 2022

Below is a comparison of splits for McKeown’s top 3 career-best performances.

McKeown’s 57.45 WR McKeown’s 57.47 Olympic Record McKeown’s 57.50
28.10 28.20 28.27
29.35 29.27 29.23

McKeown now ranks #1 in the world while O’Callaghan inserts herself into slot #3 on the season.

2022-2023 LCM Women 100 Back

2Regan
Smith
USA57.7106/30
3Katharine
Berkoff
USA58.0106/30
4Mollie
O'Callaghan
AUS58.4206/14
5Claire
Curzan
USA58.5906/30
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Jason
1 year ago

Watching the swim live, Kaylee’s stroke rate slowed down a lot in the last 4-5 strokes. If she’s still not fully tapered, that’s scary. She was on track to go a 57.3 at the speed she was on. I appreciate the comparison with Regan, however Kaylee is right on point now and we all know she is a fierce competitor, I cant see her losing this year. I’m predicting a 57.3 at worlds and she’s the right age to keep dropping for next year – which is when we may see a 56.

Sherry Smit
1 year ago

I’m excited to see how Regan reacts to this time. With ASU training, is she gonna pop a 57.40??

Eli
Reply to  Sherry Smit
1 year ago

Oh for god’s sake, can’t you appreciate someone’s swim without comparing them or trying to find someone who you think could go fasted? Kaylee is amazing and can stand on her own.

Last edited 1 year ago by Eli
Sherry Smit
Reply to  Eli
1 year ago

I was more pointing out a potential battle this summer. Not trying to throw dirt on Kaylee’s swim

Oceanian
1 year ago

Kaylee & MOC were locked together for about 75m and then it was like Kaylee turned on her outboard motor.

Personal Best
1 year ago

In 2022 people were questioning whether McKeown would be able to get back to her 100 best.

It’s evident now that 2022 was a building block for her.

This year, she’s posted PBs in a bunch of events and an almost best in the 100 back. Very impressive.

Summer is Titmus’ Sleep Paralysis Demon
1 year ago

OVER/UNDER in where MOC and her stand on the podium in Japan? Impressive!

Sherry Smit

1. R. Smith 57.34
2. K. McKeown 57.45
3. C. Curzan 58.32

Nick the biased Aussie
1 year ago

Kaylee’s stroke rate in that 2nd 50 was nuts. Made Mollie look ordinary.
Can see Kaylee going sub 57 by the end of her career. 27.9 + 28.9 = 56.8

Andy
1 year ago

How fast has Kylie Masse been this season? Weird not seeing her up there. In any case, MOC has consistently been swimming 58 mid. If she fixed her turns she would be approaching the 58 barrier

Sub13
Reply to  Andy
1 year ago

59.00. 7th for the season

Verram
Reply to  Andy
1 year ago

She needs to swim centre not on the lane ropes and her time will drop

ScovaNotiaSwimmer
Reply to  Andy
1 year ago

I’m very interested in seeing how her year of training in Spain with Titley again will pan out for her at Worlds. She hasn’t had a really noteworthy season but she usually delivers when it counts.

jonathankkh
1 year ago

Her splits have always been so consistent. It is hard to see anyone beating her without being able to swim a
29 low on the second 50 and she may well be the first to swim a sub 29 too.

Jkoles
Reply to  jonathankkh
1 year ago

Regan Smith 27.5/29.6 would beat her

jonathankkh
Reply to  Jkoles
1 year ago

I doubt anyone can come back in 29.6 if they go out in 27.5, which is a suicidal pace.
Over-swimming the first half is not a wise strategy against someone like Kaylee.
I would rather see Regan do something more controlled like 27.8/29.4.

Last edited 1 year ago by jonathankkh

About Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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